The EastAfrican 28 BEHIND THE HEADLINES East Africa’s heaviest drinkers OUTLOOK JUNE 14-20,2014 T I T B I T S Another Kenyan Muslim cleric killed Sierra Leone Ebola death toll doubles World Cup kicks off in Brazil The News: Rwanda has the highest alcohol consumption rate in the East African Community, according to the World Health Organisation. The Lowdown: WHO says Rwandans consume 9.8 litres of pure alcohol (ethanol) per person per year. By contrast, the African average is six litres of pure alcohol. In 2010, 5.8 per cent of Rwandans were dependent on alcohol and used alcohol in a harmful way, WHO says. Alcohol addiction is growing in Rwanda, according to Boniface Harelimana, an addiction care worker at University Central Hospital of Kigali. The News: A Muslim cleric was shot dead in Kenya’s Coastal city of Mombasa on Tuesday morning, the fourth killing of a prominent Muslim preacher in two years. The Lowdown: Sheikh Mohammed Idris, chairman of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya, was killed outside his home by gunmen. Sheikh Idris, who was against radicalisation of Muslim youths, had reported threats on his life. He once chaired the committee of the Masjid Mussa mosque in Mombasa, a position he left when the mosque became the centre for radical preachers such as Aboud Rogo, who was killed in a drive-by shooting in 2012. The News: The death toll from the contagious Ebola virus in Sierra Leone has doubled in one week, with hopes of containing the outbreak fading. The Lowdown: Officials in the Ministry of Health said at least 16 people had died of the deadly virus, up from six. The confirmed deaths were in the east, near the border with Guinea, the epicentre of the outbreak that has killed more than 200 people this year alone. There is no cure or vaccine for Ebola, one of the world’s deadliest viruses. Sierra Leone shut its border with Guinea and Liberia on Wednesday and closed schools, cinemas and nightclubs in the frontier region. Advocating safe blood to save the wo≥ld’s mothe≥s June 14 is World Blood Donor Day. This year’s theme is “Safe Blood for Saving Mothers.’’ The goal of the campaign is to increase awareness about why timely access to safe blood and blood products is essential for the prevention of maternal deaths. Up to 65 per cent of blood transfusions are given to children under 5 years of age in lowincome countries. Blood donation rate per 1,000 population High-income countries: 39.2 Up to 76 per cent of all transfusions in high-income countries, involve a patient group that is over 65 years. 65% Middle-income countries: 12.6 Low-income countries: 4.0 increase of Around 107 million units of blood are collected globally every year. 2004 7.70 million blood donations from voluntary unpaid donors 2011 An >18 18.2pc 0.2pc 37pc Nearly 50 per cent of these blood donations are collected in highincome countries, home to 15 per cent of the world’s population. = 1 million 71 countries collect over 90 per cent of their blood supply from voluntary unpaid blood donors. However, 73 countries collect more than 50 per cent of their blood supply from family/ replacement or paid donors. An adequate and reliable supply of safe blood can be assured by a stable base of regular, voluntary blood donors. Overall, 62 per cent of countries have specific legislation covering the safety and quality of blood transfusion: High-income Middle-income Low-income Source: WHO 81pc 60pc 44pc 18 - 24 25 - 44 Low-income countries 4.3pc 40.3pc 31pc 38.8pc 45 - 64 65+ Age profiles of blood donors in relation to proportion of donation High-income countries 4.1pc 6.9pc 19.2pc The News: Brazil 2014 is finally here. The quadrennial football World Cup, which stokes the intensest of passions, kicked off at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo on Thursday. The Lowdown: After years of construction delays and budget overruns, the World Cup kicked off in Brazil on Thursday under a cloud of discontent at home even as foreign fans poured in for the tournament. Brazil is seen by many fans around the world as the spiritual home of football and hundreds of thousands will descend on the country for the month-long tournament. But the enthusiasm among Brazilians has been muted. Many are angry over the $11.3 billion budget.